Chapter 286 : Tsunade's Date Place!!

The trees towered like sharp swords, piercing the sky with their jagged branches. Mist swirled around them, casting a dark and mysterious aura. 

These trees had no leaves; their branches, gnarled and twisted, resembled barbed wire growing out of the trunks, with a pale hue that suggested the eerie look of white bones.

Anyone who stumbled upon this forest without prior knowledge might think they had entered a forbidden realm—a place of nightmares. 

Yet, despite its grim appearance, the forest air was moist and refreshing, infused with a palpable sense of natural energy. If you were a newcomer, the fresh air would be invigorating, like the feeling you get after a long run on a sweltering day and then eating a slice of chilled watermelon.

Tsunade arrived at the forest, inhaling deeply. Though she had been here many times, she still relished the sensation of energy filling her limbs. 

This forest, known as the Shikkotsu Forest, was teeming with an immense concentration of natural energy. The air was thick with it, so much so that you could almost see it floating around like an invisible mist.

On the forest floor and the pale tree trunks, small blue-and-white slug-like creatures called Katsuyu moved slowly.

 From their mouthparts, a sticky substance dripped down, flowing along the branches. This slime also contained pure natural energy, making its way through the forest.

Yes, this was indeed the Shikkotsu Forest, one of the three great sacred places for summoning beasts in the ninja world. It was also where Tsunade and Kazuhiko would meet. 

The Shikkotsu Forest was a vast, separate dimension entirely under the domain of the Sage Katsuyu, a giant slug whose gentle nature contrasted with the forest's ominous appearance.

Tsunade's clan history told her that the Shikkotsu Forest had existed for a long time, even before the concept of ninjas had emerged in the world. 

The Sage Katsuyu, the ruler of this forest, was a colossal creature known for its gentleness. The smaller Katsuyu in the forest were its split-offs—clones created by the sage itself.

The Sage Katsuyu possessed unique abilities, including splitting into smaller forms, spewing corrosive liquids, and healing the wounded. 

Despite the forest's ominous look, it was a place of ancient wisdom and natural healing power.

"Tsunade-sama, you're here again?" A small slug, Katsuyu, wriggled out from the depths of the forest.

Compared to the palm-sized Katsuyu on the scroll beside her, this Katsuyu, who only spoke to Tsunade, was already the size of a small hill.

But Tsunade knew this wasn't Katsuyu's true form—it was just a small fragment of her massive body.

Tsunade had seen Katsuyu's real form back when they first made their summoning contract. It was an enormous, indescribable creature that stretched across the horizon. 

She could hardly believe that something so vast and ancient could exist in the ninja world.

And what a gentle creature it was! Tsunade had never encountered a Summoning beast with a kinder temperament than Katsuyu, not even close. 

Even among ninja, it was common knowledge that Orochimaru's summoning was a violent, man-eating serpent, and Jiraiya's summoning, while not as aggressive, was a boisterous toad with a penchant for smoking and cursing.

Tsunade was always grateful that her summoning partner was Katsuyu, a wise and kind spirit with a gentle disposition. Despite being centuries younger, Tsunade was always addressed as "sama," a sign of respect that was quite rare among the other Two Great Sage Region.

Unlike the secretive Mount Myōboku and the fierce Ryūchi Cave, the Shikkotsu Forest, home to Katsuyu, was the calmest and most welcoming to humans.

Tsunade felt a bit guilty as the little slug welcomed her, knowing that she'd been visiting Shikkotsu Forest more often than usual. 

Usually, the Reverse Summoning Technique made her dizzy, leaving her with a pounding headache, so she only visited when absolutely necessary.

But this time was different. Tsunade had a secret reason for coming so frequently. She had a rendezvous with her lover, and Shikkotsu Forest was their chosen meeting place.

Tsunade blushed lightly at the casual comment, despite herself. "Yeah, I'm waiting for Kazuhiko..."

Kazuhiko hadn't shown up yet, and Tsunade knew she had arrived early. She just couldn't help herself—she was always a bit impatient when it came to appointments.

While she waited, Tsunade struck up a conversation with Katsuyu, the wise and gentle slug.

"Katsuyu, have you noticed how the ninja world has been unstable lately? There's growing tension among the major nations, and war could break out at any moment..."

"There's already been bloodshed on the borders between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning. If things continue like this, a war seems inevitable..."

"Yes, it's true. The ninja world isn't very peaceful right now. It seems like a big conflict is on the horizon." Katsuyu climbed onto Tsunade's shoulder, lowering herself slightly as she spoke in a soft, sympathetic tone.

Having lived for over a thousand years, Katsuyu had witnessed the ebb and flow of the ninja world's turbulent history.

She'd seen far too much of this over the centuries—humanity caught in a perpetual cycle of conflict, war, and destruction that seemed to plague the land.

Tsunade fell silent, her excitement about meeting Kazuhiko dampening a bit as the weight of impending war settled in her mind.

War was not a good memory, and every battle brought countless deaths and untold suffering. Though Tsunade hadn't personally experienced the last Great Ninja War, her family's records told the story of the orphans and shattered lives it left behind.

"Katsuyu, you seem to know a lot about the ninja world. What makes you think war is coming?" Tsunade asked, her curiosity piqued.

Katsuyu replied in her gentle voice, "Tsunade-sama, I've been observing the signs. The ninja world has fallen unnaturally quiet, like the calm before a storm..."

Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "Katsuyu, how do you know all this? Do you have spies or something in the ninja world?"

Tsunade heard a familiar voice. She turned around with a smile and saw Kazuhiko standing there, dressed in a white robe.